Backers of Norwell athletic facility halfway to fundraising goal

Supporters of a proposed $3.5 million athletic facility dubbed the Clipper Community Complex say they’re halfway to their fundraising goal of $600,000 for costs that cannot be paid with town funds.

By Fred Hanson

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Fred Hanson

Posted Jul. 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 16, 2013 at 4:05 PM

By Fred Hanson

Posted Jul. 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 16, 2013 at 4:05 PM

NORWELL

» Social News

Supporters of a proposed $3.5 million athletic facility dubbed the Clipper Community Complex say they’re halfway to their fundraising goal of $600,000 for costs that cannot be paid with town funds.

The private donations, which have been collected by a parent-run steering committee, will be used to pay for artificial turf on two fields that would be built on the site of the Norwell High School stadium field. Supporters hope to pay for the rest of the project with money from the town’s community preservation fund, which cannot be used for artificial turf under state law.

Richard Webber, a member of the steering committee raising the money, said many of the donations have come from parents who do not have children in the schools.

“I think that alludes to the fact that there’s widespread community support, if you will, beyond the school-aged parents,” he said.

The town’s athletic fields committee held a forum last week in an effort to raise awareness about the project in advance of a town meeting this fall where supporters expect to ask for $2.75 million to cover the bulk of the project’s costs. Voters at a town meeting in May already allocated money from the community preservation fund to pay for engineering and design work for the project.

Supporters have also launched a website, www.norwellccc.org, and are starting to sell named bricks that will be included in the project to raise additional money. If funding is approved by town meeting voters, construction could begin in October.